Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder

Novel
Title: Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder
Author: Barbara Park
Age Level: middle grades
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
This book within the Junie B. Jones series is about Junie B. losing her first tooth.  She is the first person to lose a tooth in her first grade class and she is excited yet scared because she is told that she may end up looking like Uncle Lou, who is toothless.  When she finally  loses her tooth she realizes that she doesn't look weird but that she looks fascinating and can't wait to show off her new smile.  She is still struggling with the fact that she doesn't think the tooth fairy is a real fairy but is actually a witch.  She faces her fears and places her tooth under her pillow and in the morning is able to realize that the tooth fairy is real and the fairies main purpose is to recycle baby teeth.

Opinion
Junie B. Jones books were some of my favorite novels while growing up.  I was always fascinated by the problems Junie B. faced and they ways she came to solutions or answers.  This was one of my favorite novels in the series because I think that this story is one that is very relatable for young children.  All children go through the stage of life where they lose their teeth and this book provides a fun and silly story about what that first tooth-losing experience is like.  Some kids may be scared of losing their teeth and this book may be of comfort to them.  This book also tackles the topic of recycling and introduces the purpose of recycling to young readers.  I think that children will be able to read this book and have a discussion about the messages that they think are trying to be portrayed.  I also think that the writing style of the author is very unique and gives the character a fun and edgy personality.

Since I loved this series so much growing up I would definitly have this book available, as well as the series, in my classroom library.  I think that kids will enjoy reading this book and relating to the real life sceneros that Junie. B goes through.  I would advise children to read this book because I think that they will find it to be a great book!

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/barbara-park/

The Giver

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Age Level: 5th grade and up
Rating: 4 out of 5

I remember reading The Giver in high school but never really got into the book.  When we were assigned to read this in class this year, not much came to mind about the book.  I guess you can say that my first time reading this didn't make that much of an impact in my literary life.  Now that I have read this book again, I am able to see the depth and uniqueness that this book has to offer.  What I liked about this book that I never really took into account when I read it previously was how different the lifestyle Jonas and his neighbors where living.  When reading this book now, I found myself trying to put myself into the shoes of the people living in that "utopian" society and seeing what a life like that would really be like.  I couldn't imagine living in a society that valued "sameness" and definitly wouldn't like it.  I think that this book really makes the reader think and challenges the views that the reader has about societal beliefs and values.  I also liked how the book was left open for interpretation.  Having the ending not be specifically layed out encourages group discussions about what may or may not have happened and I think that these types of discussions are essential to have in order to develop a greater understanding of the novel.  I think that this book would be a great book to read in school because the literature is so rich and allows for great discussion and interpretation by the reader.  In my opinion, students will enjoy reading about a world that is different from their own and conversing about their opinions and interpretations of the novel.

I Can Do It Myself

Picture Book
Title: I Can Do It Myself
Author: Emily Perl Kingsly
Illustrator: Richard Brown
Age Level: 2-5
Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary
This book is about all the things that children can do independently.  This is a Sesame Street book and has all the different muppet characters in it.  Some of the things that they do are make the bed, put away toys, pour their juice, comb their hair, water their plants, write their name, etc.

Opinion
This book would be very appealing to children because it deals with the Sesame Street characters that most kids are familiar with and comfortable and excited to read about.  I do think that the writing in this book is very simplistic and boring.  It is very repetitive and each line begins with I can...  This book would be for younger ages but I think that children may get bored while reading this book.  The cartoon illustrations within in the book are very nicely done and represent the Sesame Street characters very well. This book would not offer these young readers a chance to use any literary elements while they read and would not be able to practice these skills.

This book would be a good read for children who are working to be independent and trying to start to do things on their own.  Reading this book may give children the confidence boost they need to feel like they are able to do things by themselves.  I would keep this book in my classroom library for pre-schoolers but I do not think I would use it any sort of lesson.

http://www.journeyofhearts.org/kirstimd/kingsley.htm

Arthur's Teacher Trouble

Picture Book
Title: Arthur's Teacher Trouble
Author: Marc Brown
Age Level: 5+
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary
This book is about the first week of school that Arthur experiences in the third grade.  He gets stuck with Mr. Ratburn, who is a very tough teacher and gives the class homework the very first day of school.  He then assigns a spelling test that the students must take and the two students who get 100% will be in the all-school spellathon.  Arthur studies very hard for this while all his other friends are out playing because they dont have homework.  They take the test and Arthur and The Brain are the two who get 100%.  They compete in the spelling bee and Arthur ends up winning the spelling bee.

Opinion

I used to love reading Arthur and D.W. books growing up as well as watching their show on the CW.  I was always very excited to see the next adventure that they would find themselves in.  I came across this book when I was at home looking through my old books I used to read as a child.  I thought that the cartoon illustrations were done extremely well and with a lot of detail which made this book very esthetically appealing.  The story line in this book was a little difficult for you readers to read; I read this with my child study student and she had some troubles, however, this would be a great book for those students who are in second grade or higher.  I think that this book is something that students can relate to and will find interesting and fun to read.  Some students get frustrated in school because they get more homework than expected or they get stuck with the teacher that they did not want.  This book tells the story of how this situation may not be as bad as one might think.  With hard work and motivation, which is just what Mr. Ratburn gave the students, you can succeed and do things you may not have thought you could.

I would have this book in my classroom library as a future teacher because I think that children will find this book very appealing to read.  Arthur is a character that many children are familiar with and having these types of books in my classroom will motivate students to pick up a book and get engaged in reading.

http://kids.aol.com/KOL/2/KOLJrStories/FlashHolder/arthurs-teacher-trouble
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-brown-marc.asp

My Five Senses

Picture Book
Title: My Five Senses
Author: Aliki
Age Level: 3+
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary
This book explains the five senses that we have to the reader, taste, touch, hear, smell, see.  It also gives examples of how we use our five senses, such as when we eat an ice cream cone we use our sense of taste.  It goes through different situations when you would use more than one sense at a time such as playing with a puppy, you use your sense of seeing, hearing, smelling, and touching.

Opinion
I think that this book is sort of unappealing and boring in a sense.  The illustrations are bright and large but the dialouge is very simple.  This book does not have that much depth to it and would not be quality literature in my opinion.  This type of book would not provide children a chance to use literary elements to find deeper meaning within the text and gain as much information and knowledge as possible.  The lesson that this story has to offer is of importance, though.  Children need to learn about their five senses and I think this is an introductory book that would help students become aware of the different senses we have and how we use them in our daily life.

Using this book as an attention getter to this topic would be my only use for this book.  I would read this book to my kindergarten students and then have them describe what each sense is and how we use them.  I could also have them make a chart with each sense as a box header and then have them write in examples of how they would use each sense. This activity will open their eyes to the many, many different ways we use our senses and how they are a part of our everyday lives.

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/body-parts/curriculum-planning/6209.html

The River

Picture Book
Title: The River
Author: Gallimard Jeunesse and Laura Bour
Illustrator: Laura Bour
Age Level: 3+
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary
This book is about plant and animal life near the river.  It describes many different animals and insects that you can find near or in a river and it tells the lifecycles of some bugs and amphibians that you may find.

Opinion
This was also a book that I liked to read while growing up.  I loved learning about different plants and animals and this was always a fun book that I liked to read.  The representational art really makes you feel like you are down by the river experiencing all of the great wildlife that it holds.  Throughout this book there are also many transparent sheets that are painted with pictures that cover up something on the next page.  This is a great added affect to the book that makes reading it more exciting in my opinion because you can see how one page works with the next page.  The illustrations are also very detailed and done in vibrant colors which make the wildlife in and around the river stand out dramatically.

This book has so much rich information about plants, animals, and insects that it would definitly be used in my classroom as a future teacher.  I would use this book when we are talking about either different ecosystems or different landscapes or if we are learning about birds, amphibians, or insects.  This book would be a fun attention getter and opener activity to get students excited to learn about this type of science.  I would gather the children on the rug and read the book, followed by a discussion of what things were familiar to them or what they have seen before.  It also might be fun to bring the children to a river by the school and see how many things from the book we are able to find and then we can use that knowledge to state information we know about them.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/River-First-Discovery-Books/book/0590471287/

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Picture Book
Title: If You Give A  Mouse A Cookie
Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Age Level: 3-7
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary
This book is about the dominoes effect that happens when you let a mouse into your house.  When you give him a cookie he will ask for some milk, and if you give him milk he will want to look in the mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and the story goes on and on in this manner.

Opinion
When I think back to my childhood and the reading that I enjoyed to do, reading, If You Give A  Mouse A Cookie, is one of the books that I remember most vividly.  I would  read this book over and over again because I was so intrigued by all the things that the mouse wanted to do.  I think the cartoon like illustrations are extremely playful and inviting for the reader.  The layout of the story is also done in a way that keeps the reader on his/her toes and hightens the anticipation that they have to find out what comes next. It also helps that the title and front cover have cookies on them, we all know that children love cookies so this makes the book even more appealing for them to read.  I think that students can also use their five senses while reading this book which is an activity and lesson that is extremely important.

I would definitly keep this book in my class library because I think that all students will enjoy reading it.  I do not think I would use this book in a particular lesson but having it available to students would be my main focus.

http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/If_You_Give_a_____Books/index.shtml

The Higher Power of Lucky

Novel
Title: The Higher Power of Lucky
Author: Susan Patron
Illustrator: Matt Phelan
Age Level: 9-11
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
This book captures the journey of Lucky, a ten-year-old girl living in Hard Pan California.  She has experienced many hardships in her life, her dad leaving her, her mother dying, and she becomes very concerned and sure that her guardian, Brigitte, is planning to leave her and go back home to France.

Opinion
While reading this book, I never realized how much discussion could be drawn from the context within its covers.  I always love discussing books and I was surprised at how well the literary elements played a vital role in reading and understanding the story and journey that lucky takes.  Point of view becomes an important part of this story and allows us to see what is going on in the third person.  We were able to see the story through Lucky's perception and this gave us little insight into the minds of the other characters in the story.  Consequently, we became very caught up in Lucky's struggles and emotions and experienced anticipation and wonder with Lucky, searching for the answer to the question of Brigitte leaving.  Theme is also another literary element that is very evident in this story.  Patron is able to convey the theme in her book that family can be with you without actually being there.  Her mother is dead and her father chose to not raise her but she has other people in her life that are just as faithfull and important to her.  I also thought that this book was rich with metaphors and symbols that provide depth to the text and allow for students to construct deeper meaning and challenge themselves a bit.

This book is one that I think would be very beneficial for students to read because it provides literature that is filled with a lot of meaning and can make students really think.  Great classroom discussion can branch from the topics encountered in this book and that is something that is important if students are going to develop an understanding of the literary elements.

Mommy Laid An Egg

Title: Mommy Laid An Egg

Picture Book: Controversial
Author: Babette Cole
Age Level: 4-8
Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary
This book is about answering the question, where do babies come from?  The childrens parents give them crazy explanations but the children get a pencil and paper and draw out the actual answer to their question.

Opinion
I think that this book is a painless effort at trying to convey the details of conception and childbirth in a humorous manner and not-so-serious way to children but nontheless, I think that this book is too detailed for children the age this book is designed for.  The cartoon-illustrations provide a humorous edge to the serious talk with examples of babies coming out of tubes and greenhouses but I think they show things that are not appropriate for children.  Some of these things include different positions children can be concieved and could have been left out all together because this is something that is unnecessary for children to know.  The author was probably trying to add humor and try and make it less embarrassing but I think that it is more uncomfortable to read then anything.  Julie Wollman-Bonilla explains in her article that a text may be rejected as "inappropriate for children because it might frighten or corrupt them by introducing them to things they don’t or shouldn’t know about"(289).  In this case, I think that this is very true when reading through this book. 

Even though children need to learn about childbirth and conception, I do not think that this book represented this information in an appropriate way and would cause a lot of controversy if read within a classroom environment.  Most parents want to talk about this topic with their children first and reading this book to children in the classroom would cause a lot of problems, in my opinion. 

William's Doll

Picture Book: Controversial
Title: William's Doll
Author: Charlotte Zolotow
Illustrator: William Pene Du Bois
Age Level: 4+
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary
William's Doll is about a boy, William, who wants a doll even though dolls are toys that are typically considered for only girls.  William's father is uncomfortable with the fact that William keeps asking for a doll so he gives him a basketball instead.  His brother makes fun of him for wanting a doll.  His grandmother is the one who finally fulfills William's wish and gets him a doll and explains to his father that he will use the doll to practice being a good father.

Opinion
This book is one that I would not consider a problem for children to read but I can see how some people may think that this book would not be appropriate for children of certain ages.  This book deals with topics of gender roles and stereotypes and challenges these roles that we have set up in our society by showing a boy who wants to play with toys that we see only girls should play with.  I think that this book is a predictable controversial book but it is also more of an unpredictable controversial book because many people might not share the stereotypical beliefs of only girls taking part in girl activities and boys taking part in only boy activities.  I do not think that this book should be considered a problem book in the classroom because I think that children should read literature that challenges the social norms that society has built up.  According to the article by Julie Wollman-Bonilla, one reason teachers conclude that a certain book is inappropriate, is because "it fails to represent dominant social values or myths"(289).  This book does challenge social values but I think that discussing these in the classroom is something that should be done.  Children need to see that their gender does not disclude them from taking part or doing things that may seem unnatural in their society. 


I would definitly use this book in my classroom to show that opportunities and activities do not and should not be stereotyped to one gender.  If children are able to see this, they may feel more comfortable taking part in things that they may have felt ashamed to do prior to discussion about this issue. 

Rumpelstiltskin

Picture Book: Fairytale
Title: Rumpelstiltskin
Author/Illustrator: Paul Zelinsky
Age Level: 4+
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary
A poor miller tells the king that his beautiful daughter knows the art of spinning straw into gold so the king orders the millers daughter into the castle right away to make gold or else she was to die.  The girl did not know how to spin straw into gold until a little man comes in who will spin the straw into gold in return of the girls necklace. The king became greedier so asked for the girl to spin more straw into gold and the girl gave the man her ring, and then promised that if the king made her his wife that their first child would be the little mans.  When the queen gave birth, the little man appeared and wanted to child but finally agreed that if the queen knew his name after three days, she could keep the child.  When he came back, she guessed and guessed his name until one night she sent a servant who overheard the little man say his name. The next day the queen says that the mans name is Rumpelstiltskin and she gets to keep her baby.

Opinion
This is one book that I do not remember reading as a child but the story is one that allowed me to daze off into a fantasy world while I was reading.  I thought that the story was beautifully illustrated with the representational style and was very detailed which allowed you to take yourself back into the time of kings and queens in the castle.  It was a more sophisticated version of the book and I think that it plays nicely with the kind of time period that the book is trying to represent.  I think that the story of Rumpelstiltskin provides a lot of topics to be discussed with children.  There is the topic of greed, which is shown by the king, and also by Rumpelstiltskin himself.  Also, lying to get what you want is something that can be seen within the story by the girl who has no real magic power of turing straw into gold but whose father lies and says she can because he wants her to marry the king.  These are important things that children need to see and understand so that they can make good decisions and I think that this book helps them see this.

I think that this book could be used quite well in a discussion or introduction of literary elements.  While reading this book, I think that children will be able to apply elements like time, place, character, mood, etc. to build on their thoughts about the book and enhance their understanding of the greater story and meaning this book portrays.

The Three Little Pigs

Picture Book: Fairytale
Title: The Three Little Pigs
Author/Illustrator: James Marshall
Age Level: 3+
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
Retold and based on the classic, The Three Little Pigs, this story is about three pigs who are sent out to live in the world by themselves.  The first pig buys straw and builds a house out of it, the second pig buys sticks to make a house, and the third pig buys brick, however, along comes the big, bad wolf who knocks down the first two houses but the last little pig's house is too sturdy for the wolf to knock down and the third little pig is too clever for the wolf, too.

Opinion
While growing up, The Three Little Pigs, was one of my favorite books to read.  I remember checking this book out on various trips to the library but this version of the book is certainly different from the one I remember.  I thought that the author did a great job on retelling the story but adding a slight twist.  The language in this story was slightly more sophisticated than the original, for example, the third pig states, "Capital idea, my good fellow!", however, it does not detract from the original and classic story line but rather gives it an exciting new feel.  I also thought that the author did a great job on the cartoon illustrations.  They are bright and vibrant and catch the readers eye as they turn each page.

I would use this book in my classroom as one that introduces topics on character.  I think that this story line shows the importance of being nice and not being sneeky to get what you want.  Children can see from this book that only negative things happen when you continually act badly towards others and that if you treat others nicely you will be treated the same way.

Annie and the Wild Animals

Picture Book
Title: Annie and the Wild Animals
Author/Illustrator: Jan Brett
Age Level: 4-8
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary
This book follows the story of Annie, who's cat, Taffy, has run away and Annie misses her very much.  She decides to put corn cakes at the edge of the forest to try and find a new animal that she could make her pet.  A moose, a wildcat, and a bear came but these animals were all too big and wild for her to have as pets and when she thought she was never going to get a new pet, Taffy comes home and shows Annie that she only left because she was having kittens.

Opinion
I thought that the illustrations in this book were very interesting and ones that I have never seen before.  Each page is bordered in a very unique and expressive way that subtly foreshadow what is going to happen next in the plot.  I did not pick up on the significance of these borders until I read this book a second time but it is something that I think is very creative and adds depth to the story.  I also think that the illustrations really added to the rustic feel that the story was trying to show with dull but variety of color and the portrayal of life living in a small cottage in the wilderness. The story line is something that I think children will appreciate because it deals with the relationship between a child and their pet and the hardship one goes through when a pet runs away or is lost.  The bright side of the story where Taffy comes home shows children that if they do have a pet that is missing that they should never lose hope and that there may be other animals that can be great pets as well.  This book also gives children a good description of different animals one can find in the forest as well as the idea that "wild" animals should not be kept as pets but live better in their natural environment.

I think that this book would be a good book to keep in the classroom library when I am a future teacher because it is a story that I think children will love to read and when I read this to my child study student she seemed to take a lot of interest to the character in the story and her determination to find a new pet.  Discussing with students the different environments that animals live in and if certain animals should be kept as pets is something that I would consider with this book, however, I do not think I would use this book in any classroom activity, but it still is a fun book to have on hand for students!

Clever Chameleon

Picture Book
Title: Clever Chameleon
Author/Illustrator: Ali Lodge
Age Level: 3-7
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary


This book takes you on a trip through the jungle, led by a game of hide and seek by an elephant, and helps you see all the different ways that animals hide and blend into their natural surroundings. We come to learn that the chameleon has the best camouflage of them all.


Opinion


I loved this book!  This book was one that really drew my attention because of the clever rhyming and that it talked about different animals in the jungle because I used to love reading about animals in their habitats and still do.  I thought that the illustrations really made this book pop.  The colors were so vibrant and the animals seemed to jump off the page.  The drawing was also taken to the edge of the page so I think that added to the affect of the jungle being so large.  Ali Lodge's illustrations were acrylic-based but she used a variety of media, from watercolor pencils to computer-generated paint effects and I think that they all worked together really well and made the book very aesthetically appealing.  I also think that the book was very cleverly put together.  The chameleon, who is last to be found on the hide-and-seek hunt, is secretly placed on every page, using a particular camouflage that blends in with the rest of the scenery and it is the readers job to find him on each page.  This allows for an engaging activity with the readers and brings the book to life.

This book would definitly be one that I would use in my classroom because it provides a lesson on the different ways animals blend and hide in their surroundings as well as shows some characteristics of certain animals.  It is also a very engaging book and one that can be used with younger kids extremely well.  I think that this books gives children the chance to use their five senses while reading and would be a great follow up activity for children to do.  I also think that some fun art projects could come out of this book such as making stuffed paper animals that are in the jungle and have the students represent the different characteristics of the animals in their drawing.

Princess Penelope

Picture Book
Title: Princess Penelope
Author: Todd Mack
Illustrator: Julia Gran
Age Level: 4-8
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary


This book is about the lifestyle of a little girl named Penelope.  Penelope thinks that she is a princess and explains all the activities that she does in a day as a princess. Some of these things include wearing a crown, having servants cook and clean for her, eating fancy food, and riding on a chariot.

Opinion


I think that this book was used in a way to help children use their imagination while reading.  Many children like to pretend that they live in fairytale worlds and live the life of a princess or king so a book like this would be really relatable to some childrens interests.  Although the book allows children to use their imagination and creativity while reading, I wonder if texts like this will give some children the wrong idea about what a "desired" lifestyle should look like.  This book could paint a picture in the childs head that living the life of a princess is the best way to live and that is something that is unrealistic.  Aside from this, I do like the cartoon illustrations in this book and think that they are very vibrant, animated, and eye-catching.  They also take up most of the pages so the reader's eye is drawn in to analyze the pictures before reading the text and readers can then use prediction based off the pictures to tell what is going to happen next.  One problem I did find with the text in this book was that is is in cursive. Many children at young ages have trouble reading cursive so I do not think that it is used wisely here.  It does add to the "fancy" affect the book is trying to portray but when I read this to my child study student, who is 7, she had to stop after the first page because she was not able to read it.

I do not think that I would use this book within my classroom as a future teacher because I do not think that a meaningful message is being portrayed.  Although the book is a very appealing to read and allows the children to step out into a fantasy world, I do not see and educational purpose this book could be used for.